A skill for learning and confidence

It’s good to hear that India, China, and Thailand are the top three leading countries that spend more time reading according to the last WorldAtlas survey. From childhood, adulthood, to old age, at least almost everyone in their place has the habit of reading one or two books a week. They can read a book, in a bus, at the park, in a coffee shop, at the airport, at home or anywhere else as long as they can spend time reading than wasting time doing something not substantial.

The Philippines, on the other hand, is next to those leading countries. It’s good to hear also that there are many Filipinos who are fond of reading a book, magazines or a journal. But spatially, reading here is not like the other countries’ way. We only have few places here to read: coffee shop, resort, library, office, or bedroom, because beyond those we are too serious or introvert kind of person in others' eyes when we are alone with a book.

Most Filipino readers are into academic lifestyle and others do it as their hobby. There are also some friends out there who read only a few pages and more time just read captions and memes in social media. But the good thing here is we know that there are a lot of us who are concerned with the significance of reading.

However, this habit of reading a book must seriously be practiced and observed in our tradition. Schools and universities, too, must continue shaping the learners’ mindset to always find time to read, one or two books a week. Let’s not confuse that reading is only for those who are rich because they have more leisure time than those working hard for a living. Books are for everyone; knowing and learning is human. Let us learn to understand that there is more time wasted in talking or gossiping about our neighbor’s life or trying to gain more likes and reactions from our vanity posted in social media, for example.

Reading a book is just a simple and small concern. According to WorldAtlas. com, “Being able to read is one of the most basic skills that a person can learn today. In fact, reading is crucial to being able to relate to and take part in society.”

Again, reading a book is just the tip of our concern, we have a lot of things to develop in some areas of our reading-writing process in literature because we continue learning from our history and from our daily living. There are so many books to read and much stories to write. There’s nothing wrong with the advent of technology and social media.

Anyone can post, react, stalk other’s lives, or make fun in social media as long as we find time to read and make sense of our nationalistic spirit, life then is more adorable. Through reading, we can not only bark at our politicians during campaign and election time but also howl in the silence of their promises and issues. May we continue to grow into real Filipinos through the simple way of reading good books and equitable confidence to fight for the unprivileged people of this nation.

Edmer John Caballes

Mandaue City